Tuesday, 26 April 2011

"Jamie Chalmers, also known as Mr X Stitch is on a mission is to bring the world of cross stitch and embroidery to a whole new audience.He has been cross stitching for years and really believes in the benefits of stitching, both from a relaxation and a sustainability perspective.Mr X Stitch was started in 2008 as a way of highlighting cross stitch patterns that he was excited about, and has evolved into a terrific resource showcasing the best in new needlecraft and textiles. His position as a premier manbroiderer both excites and frightens him, but he is embracing the craft with both tattooed arms…"

It will be hard to trace any olive trees or roosters in Loukia Richards's solo exhibition at the new Coco-mat stores in Belgium and The Netherlands but in the title. Richards, a textile artist, a Hochschule der Kuenste Berlin graduate and Fulbrighter, makes use of a stereotypical image of Greece in her show title 'to attract ''unaware visitors'' and surprise them with unorthodox works and doings'.Richards's textile work (tapestries, soft sculptures and selected textile jewellery) reflect the influence of modern Greek culture and weaving traditions, while the artist's personal Odyssey through techniques, materials and foreign influences is prominent in the show.

The show, as well as the e-catalogue the visitor may download for free, is divided into four relevant chapters or colors: Red for Greece's national insurrection in the early 19th century, for the fatricidal civil war of the late 1940s and for the rejuvenating power of joyful Greek Easter - Black for death and mourning reflecting the dark sides of Greek history, inflated with wars and foreign invasions, as well as for the Hesiodeian chaos which gave birth to cosmos, according to mythology - Green for the plant deities, spring, flourishing hope and creativity - Blue for the sea surrounding, connecting and enriching the country of over 3,000 islands, a source of innumerable myths and legends.

Richards's work shown in the exhibition includes her 'embroidery notes' on Washington DC (The Washington Diary), her fiber experience from working as an AIR at Ted Noten Atelier in Amsterdam's Red Light District (Holy Bitch), her family's recollections from the bloody civil war that shadowed her childhood with pain and mourning (Death Dolls). The focal piece of the show is the old style Greek flag, embroidered with Greek Embroidery motifs from the 17th and 18th century. Its title: 'NO!' (OXI!) refers to a word echoeing the resistance of Greek people to foreign invadors throughout their history: from the Persian wars in the antiquity to the nazi occupation in the early 1940s.

There is another element in the show which may surprise the visitor. She/he may participate in the fee free Greek Embroidery workshops taught by the artist (in English). 'In a way, visitors are encouraged to perform the craft that lead to this show and by becoming active participants of the event, they get a better understanding of the living Greek culture and the background that produced this work', Richards says. Guests will also have the possibility to try their newly acquired skills on a piece of textile which will be used to build the world's biggest mattress, an ecology-focused international event Coco-mat organizes on June 15th in Marathon, Greece. (For more information on the 'Marathon project', please visit www.coco-mat.com or e-mail: edavlamanou@coco-mat.com).

Richards completed her research on Greek Embroidery at The Textile Museum in Washington DC funded by a Fulbright Foundation grant. The results of this work - sketches made of traditional 17th and 18th century motifs - are published in the e-catalogue. "It is: a) a much cheaper alternative compared to print material b) 100% eco-friendly d) can be home-printed and finally e) sponsors may also 'e-publish' it in their websites thus 'spread the word' to their respective audience', the artist says.

Richards dedicates her show and e-catalogue to the animals and plants of Greece inspiring her work and life. ......................................................................................'The Olive Tree A Rooster Called Home' details:

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

The Modern JewelIn time and the mind of others25 March 2011 - 10 July 2011

The Modern Jewel is a major new contemporary jewellery exhibition and mima’s largest presentation of jewellery to date. As part of museumaker, over the last year Middlesbrough Museums and Galleries have been working with makers Atelier Ted Noten and Lin Cheung & Laura Potter, to commission pieces of jewellery for the collection and the people of Middlesbrough. Taking over four large gallery spaces, the new works will be shown alongside other works from Middlesbrough collection and pieces by Maisie Broadhead.

museumaker is a prestigious national project, involving sixteen museums across four participating regions, funded by Arts Council England and MLA and its Renaissance programme. It is unlocking the creative potential of collections through imaginative interchanges between the heritage and contemporary craft sectors. museumaker is a collaborative initiative across Middlesbrough Museums Service, mima, The Dorman Museum and Captain Cook Birthplace Museum.

"The Rooster is a symbol of abundance & fertility in Greek Embroidery; the olive tree is the holy tree of Athens (my hometown) and a characteristic motif of my paintings.
The title is also a reference to the rooster who nested in the olive tree of a former (deserted) kilim factory in Leonidio in SE Peloponnese - a town internationally known for its kilim industry in the 19th century."

The event is under the auspices of The Theoharakis Foundation (www.thf.gr), a private museum of modern and contemporary art in Athens.